A month later, in a secret chamber at Root.
"You still haven't figured it out? After all this time, this is all the progress you've made!"
Bang!
Shimura Danzō swept all the documents containing the research data off the table and roared at Orochimaru, madness written across his face.
"Orochimaru, tell me, have you been playing me for a fool?"
"Why don't you tell me how much material you've sent me lately?"
Facing the furious Shimura Danzō, Orochimaru spoke calmly.
"You expect me to produce results quickly with so little material? My dear Danzo, are you dreaming? Heh."
Of course, taking time out to help my dear Yoru with his experiments also cost me a little time, and I even got results.
The power of Wood Release could indeed greatly shorten the recovery time for the damage using the Sharingan did to its ocular power.
And the effect was remarkably pronounced.
My preliminary conclusion was that an ability with a cooldown of over a decade might have that reduced to mere dozens of days through the balancing effects of Wood Release.
Perhaps even a dozen or so days!
But naturally, I wouldn't tell you that.
After all, the material Yoru provided was much better and more valuable than yours.
"..."
At Orochimaru's words, Shimura Danzō gritted his teeth, his expression shifting uncertainly.
In the end, all he could do was slam his palm onto the table.
"Do you think I don't want to give you more experimental material? It's not that I won't. I can't!"
"A while ago, someone who could use Space-Time Ninjutsu suddenly appeared in the village. If not for him, Hiruzen wouldn't have stepped up the patrols!"
"Oh? Did I hear someone talking about me?"
Just as Shimura Danzō finished speaking, a bizarre vortex appeared out of thin air inside the chamber.
Then Obito Uchiha appeared before Shimura Danzō and Orochimaru.
"What?"
Seeing Obito Uchiha make such a bizarre entrance, Shimura Danzō's expression darkened, and he sharply waved his right hand.
The next moment, the Root members lurking in the shadows rushed out.
"Protect Lord Danzo!"
"You three, follow me!"
Three Root members charged straight at Obito Uchiha, thrusting their kunai without hesitation.
The others surrounded Shimura Danzō and Orochimaru, watching Obito Uchiha warily.
"I'm not your enemy."
Obito Uchiha completely ignored the three Root members' attacks, speaking as he walked toward Danzo.
The next moment, before everyone's eyes, all three Root members' attacks passed through empty air.
"What's going on? Why can't I hit him?"
"Same here."
"Me too."
At the sight, Shimura Danzō instinctively tightened his grip on his sword hilt, his expression utterly grave.
I recognize that eye. This man is...
A member of the Uchiha Clan!
"Don't be nervous. As I said, we're not enemies. In fact, you could even call us ideal partners."
"Because my target is the Uchiha Clan!"
"Partners? The Uchiha Clan?"
At Obito Uchiha's words, Shimura Danzō frowned slightly.
"Go on. And you'd better take off that mask. If we're going to work together, it would be best if we knew each other's identities."
"My identity? Heh, heh, heh. Every one of you knows me."
Obito Uchiha suddenly gave a cold laugh, then slowly spread his hands as though making a declaration.
His crimson Mangekyō Sharingan gleamed faintly in the chamber, chilling to behold.
"Madara. My name is Madara Uchiha!"
"Madara Uchiha? Impossible! Madara Uchiha died long ago!"
"Died? Who said so? Have you seen his corpse?"
Faced with Shimura Danzō's objection, Obito Uchiha cast him a contemptuous glance.
"I am Madara, the strongest ninja in the Shinobi World."
"Even though Hashirama defeated me once, I survived by paying a price to use a secret technique, while he died."
"So I was still the winner of that battle at the Valley of the End!"
"And today, I've returned. I've returned to take revenge on the Uchiha who betrayed me!"
At that, Obito Uchiha abruptly swept his hand outward.
"Danzo, I can no longer use too much chakra at once. But as you can see, I've also gained another invincible ocular technique."
"Well? Work with me, and destroy the Uchiha!"
"..."
After hearing Obito Uchiha out, Shimura Danzō hesitated for a moment.
But when he thought of Orochimaru's long-unfinished experiment, he finally clenched his fist and spoke in a low voice.
"Madara, I can work with you, but our only target is the Uchiha."
"Konoha is mine. You must not touch it!"
At Shimura Danzō's insistence, Obito Uchiha casually lowered his hands and turned his back on them.
While Shimura Danzō and the others still watched him warily, that bizarre vortex appeared again.
"Soon, I will bring a disaster upon the Uchiha, deepening the conflict between them and Konoha's other clans."
"When that happens, how you escalate that conflict and make the Uchiha the target of all Konoha's hostility will depend on your performance."
"Escalate the conflict? Hey, what are you going to do? Explain yourself!"
Seeing Obito Uchiha preparing to leave before saying everything, Shimura Danzō hurriedly shouted after him.
Unfortunately, Obito Uchiha had no intention of answering.
"Destroy the Uchiha. Destroy those faithless traitors."
"I am Madara, Madara Uchiha. I've returned for revenge!"
"..."
Staring at the empty space before him, Shimura Danzō sank into thought.
Could this really be my opportunity to strike at the Uchiha Clan?
And that familiar eye... could Madara Uchiha truly still be alive...?
While Shimura Danzō pondered, Orochimaru remained silent behind him.
But a keen light gleamed in his eyes.
I seem to have heard something very interesting. Should I tell Yoru?
And could this be the opportunity Yoru mentioned to me?
Never mind. First, I should find a way to give Yoru the experimental data he wanted.
Everything seems to be getting more and more interesting.
While Obito Uchiha and Shimura Danzō reached their agreement, elsewhere, in Amegakure...
With Konan's help, a masked man carrying the Kusanagi Sword over his shoulder arrived near the border of the Land of Fire.
"Have you really decided to go to Konoha?"
"The bounties there are high. I'll just cut down a few Anbu and Root ninja, come back to collect, and then use the money to buy you whatever you like."
"I want explosive tags."
Hearing that, Shisui Uchiha smiled and nodded.
"Sure. That's my partner for you! Even your tastes are unique!"
"Then I'll start with a modest little goal: buying you six hundred billion explosive tags!"
"Why six hundred billion?"
Konan tilted her head slightly, looking at him in confusion.
Shisui Uchiha offered no explanation. Instead, without warning, he planted a light kiss on her cheek.
While she was still stunned, he slipped straight out of her embrace and dropped from the sky.
"Because I like it! Hahaha, off I go!"
"..."
Konoha, Obito Uchiha, Nine-Tails.
I, Shisui Uchiha, have returned!
Before you continue